Caster-socket



c. s. 'BARN/IRD. cAsTE-II SOCKET-.- APPLICATION FILED AIIGLII, 1919.

UNTL TT S FATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES S. BARNARD, OF BRIDGEPORT, CGNNECTIUUT, ASSGNOB. T0 THE BASSICK C0., OF BRIDGEPGRT, CONNECTICUT, A CRPORATION OF CAONNECTICUT.

CASTER-SOCKET.

Application filed August 14, 1919.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, CHARLES, S. BARNARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city of Bridgeport, in the county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful lmprovements in Caster-Sockets; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in a caster socket and more especially to the top bearing type, the principal object being to provide an improved socket embodying antifriction means in its upper end for bearing on the pintle of a caster.

Further the invention resides in mounting a ball bearing in the upper end of the socket for support by the upper end of the caster pintle whereby the friction occurring at the point of contact will be practically a negligible quantity.

The invention further resides in the socket construction wherein novel means are provided for releasably but securely retaining the caster pintle in the socket.

ln the drawings,

Figure l is an elevation of the socket in one embodiment;

Fig. 2 is a similar view of a slightly modified form of socket;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the blank from which the socket is constructed;

Fig. l is a transverse section through the socket shown in Fig. 2 on line 4?-4;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of a further modiication; and

F 6 is a transverse section on line 6--6 through the socket depicted in Fig. 5.

The socket l is stamped from a sheet metal blank 2 having spaced side members 3 connected by a narrow strip 4: adapted to be bent centrally to form a concaved or rounded chamber and depending side see;c tions 8. Within the top chamber is a ball 5 retained therein by a pair of ears 6 formed integral with and turned inwardly from opposite sides of the strip or chamber forming portion of the blank. The ball is preferably positioned in its chamber before the Specification of Letters latent.

Patented July 6, 1920.

serial no. 317,401.

socket is bent into final shape to facilitate the mounting of the same.

The socket is then given a cylindrical shape, as depicted in Fig. l with the taper-V ing side edges 7 of the blank diverging toward the ball chamber and leading to diametrical cutouts 8 provided by the narrow strip part of the blank 6.

The diverging edges 7 may be brought together by contracting the upper portion of the socket, as depicted in Figs. 2 and 5, to provide a truncated cone section 9. The upper corners of the edges 7 may be curled or turned inwardly, as at l0, in either form shown in Figs. l and 2, o'r left normal as illustrated in Fig. 5.

In operation, and having particular reference to Fig. l, the pintle is inserted in the socket whose sides yield or spring apart as the head of the pintle (not shown) is forced between and beyond the inturned projections l0 into contact with the ball bearing 5. It will be noted that the small lips or ears are spaced apart suificient to have the ball extend for free and unrestricted contact with the head of the pintle. The pintle is therefore, accorded a ball or anti-friction seat or bearing for supporting the socket, and as the upper end of the pintle is convex a very small area or point is in contact with the spherical ball surface.

As the pintle is thrust into the socket and the head of the pintle engages the little bent in projections l0, the sections of the sccket will be forced outwardly until the pintle has passed beyond these points l0 when these sections will spring inwardly and the underside of the head will be in abutment against the flat lower edges of the cut outs 8. In removing the pintle the head will cam against these projections 10 to separate the side sections.

ln utilizing the structure shown at Fig. 2 the head will initially engage and cam against the tapered or conical surface 9 and subsequently contact with the inwardly bent portions or projections l0 to spring them apart for passage therebetween. The small inwardly bent portions l0 can be formed either before the blank is shaped up or afterward.

The construction is simple and easily Yso formed, involving only two parts. The ball, by its early embodiment in the structure, is conveniently and expeditiously assembled. The projections 10 hold the head of the pintle in contact with its anti-friction bearing which is concealed from view but free to rotate in its chamber.

What is claimed is: Y

l. A socket for top bearing casters comprising a sheet metal body struck up from a blank formed intermediate its ends with a ball chamber constituting the top of the socket, a ball bearing located in therchamber, and a pair of ears turned inwardly from the opposite sides of the socket at the bottom of the chamber for retaining the ball bearing in the chamber corner, portions of the socket being curled inwardly adjacent the ball chamber to provide inwardly projecting pintle-retaining members.

2. A socket for'top bearing casters having a rounded top forming a ball chamber and having cut-outs below the latter, and a ball in the chamber, the chamber having an open bottom and the lower end of one of the walls oi the chamber formed by the cut-out having an integral part which extends inwardly therefrom and engages beneath the ball to hold the latter in the chamber.

3. In asocket for top bearing casters, a sheet metal body havingV a rounded top forming a ball chamber, and a ball in the chamber,the socket having cut-out side portions below the chamber and having integral .in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES S. BARNARD. lVitnesses:

JOHN E. MLLER, C. I. SUTTON. 

